Learning to Think Biblically About Anxiety

Phil 4:4-7
fear of the unknown is like being afraid of things which haven’t happened yet, and may never will happen
- when the uncertainty of life hijacks our thoughts, we have 4 commands and a promise…

When I’m anxious I need to…

Commit to unceasing joy (v4)
- biblical joy is more than happiness
  - it is confidence that all is well despite uncertainty of life
  - this confidence is not without foundation
    - our foundation is Jesus Christ; our joy is in the Lord
- “rejoice not in knowing answers to all of life’s questions, but rather rejoice in the Lord”
  - rejoice in His overflowing mercy
  - rejoice in the intimacy of relationship with Him
  - rejoice in His ability to restore all things
- joy in the Lord is not affected by fear of the unknown
  - The joy of the Lord is my strength
Display unquestionable gentleness (v5a)
- forbearing spirit, calm, control
- the focus on self-love, self-esteem, self-confidence results in more anxiety
  - bear troubles calmly
- In face of uncertainty:
  1. How are you treating other people?
    - is your fear affecting how you interact with others?
  2. Are you showing what it looks like to trust God?
    - Daniel and lion’s den
      - Dan was just pure calm and trusted in the Lord the whole time
- if we can exhibit gentleness and calm we demonstrate our theology
  - when we’re anxious, what we think about God is the most important thing we see
- anxiety looks for confidence in controlling the situation rather than confidence in the Lord
Oppose uncountable worries (v5b-6a)
- put your confidence in the nearness of the Lord
  - the Lord is at hand
    - no matter what is happening, the Lord is with you
- Jn 17:20-26
  - When you’re tempted to fear, remember that the Lord is with you!
  - anxiety is a choice in realm of obedience
    - your heart resisting against spiritual truth
- anxiety is like weeds which creep in and choke out the flowers in your life
- 4 exchanges to think about:
  1. Don’t forget; remember
    - remember Christ and build your thoughts on Him
  2. Don’t justify; repent
    - turn and leave your anxiety
  3. Don’t give up; practice
    - practice obedience! practice godliness! one step at a time!
      - our worry can never change a single thing
      - there is possibility what we worry about can never happen
  4. Don’t worry; pray
    - new responses to fear in life
    - 1 Pet 1; casting fears on Him
      - God’s cure to anxiety is prayer
      - heart change for biblical thinking
Entrust your prayers to God (v6b)
- supplication = extra pleading of urgency
  - thanksgiving prayer
  - recall His goodness!
- don’t discount prayers as antidote
- prayer seen in history of church
- power of prayer is still seen today
- thanksgiving is important in life and growth
- prayer goes beyond changing life circumstances, but to change hearts
- trust in His will
  - true prayer is complete dependence and trust in God
  - the heart issue of anxiety is trust
    - circumstances not changing is not issue of faith, it’s an issue of the heart and trust
- Your unbelief toward prayer, His sovereignty, His power, Jesus
  - you can’t harbour sin in life and expect him to come to you to calm anxieties
Promise: You will be protected by unexplainable rest (v7)
- His promise is peace, rest, stability in soul
  - the condition for peace is not that God grants all our requests, but that we lift all our requests to the Lord
  - goal isn’t an anxiety/trouble-free life, but rather to draw near to God
- when we’re anxious, “Jesus + <blank> = rest for my soul”
  - BUT it’s not supposed to like that!
  - Jesus is all the rest your soul should need!
- Jn 14:27
- Heb 12:1-2

Another sermon which was very applicable to current events in my life, and I can’t help but feel Pastor Brian drew from my experiences for some of the topics. Then again, the entire flock has situations of anxiety and needs to be reminded. Makes me wonder if things would have been different…